A Road Trip I'll Never Forget (Bucket List Items with my wife)

I woke up. I looked outside. And this is how my day started, right before I'm heading out to go on a road trip. All right, you guys. This is not how you want to wake up. This is supposed to be full of water. This is supposed to be flowing. And this is not supposed to be black and on fire. That is toast. That's toast. And that fried out both of my return pumps. The whole thing. And it's got that weird electrical smell. So, I'm going to head to Aqualand. Get some new pumps. See if I can't while I'm going to Aqualand. I already got my game plan. I mean, first things first, I had no clue what I was going to do. But, after breathing and calming down, I got Frankie coming in. We're going to start working on getting that uh put back together the right way. And I've got a recirculating pump, just a just a clean out pump. Going to go from here to there. And I'm going to be gone for 4 days. I'm starting a road trip today. That just couldn't be worse timing. Just could not be worse timing. But, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if this is right or not. Cross my fingers. Bare, what happened? Rain? That thing has lived under rain and snow and everything else. If I don't get this thing flowing again, this is going to be dead when I come back. 19.6 mi to the gallon on average. We're about 200 mi into the trip, you think? >> Yeah. >> The fuel economy on this monster truck is insane. I just I can't believe what we're getting out of this thing. All right, guys. We're 200 mi into our test. And so far, we've been averaging 20 mi to the gallon. When I say monster truck, I mean it's not a monster truck, but it is definitely not a little truck. This thing is a big beefy baby, for sure. And we'll see how much it takes to fuel this thing up. All right. So far, here's my two cents on this truck. Going 60 mi an hour, you just touch the throttle and this thing just rips and snorts. It's unfreakingreal, the amount of power. You just ink and this truck just goes. I don't think I've ever driven as responsive of a diesel truck ever, ever. And to get 20 mi to the gallon almost out of this thing, unreal. All right. Let's ask wife. How's the ride been? >> Good. Super comfortable. >> Isn't it? >> Yeah. Really for a truck. >> What was the other truck you were in with me that you couldn't She tried to sleep and It was my Ford. It was my Ford F250. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> The work one. >> And you tried to sleep. >> Oh my gosh. >> I And it was like getting the crap beat out of you. This thing is just smooth, too. >> Yeah, it is. >> This is a nice truck. >> It's a big truck. >> Yeah, it is. Yeah, he's got this thing decked out nice. The first stop on our road trip is Aqualand, and I actually didn't plan on bringing my wife with on this road trip because I didn't think she was going to be interested at all. But I asked her if she wanted to go to Plant a Pond Day cuz that's the event that Greg is having and they just they You actually climb in one of his ponds and you start planting it and you learn all about, you know, it's just a deeper education on pond ecology and things like that. And since we install ponds, it's something that I wanted to deepen my knowledge on. And then we've got another stop on this road trip, one that I was really excited to, but that's coming up in a minute. But when I told her about like everywhere that I wanted to go, she was like, "Cool, let's go." So, bonus, you know, the wife came along with. So, anyway, let's go to Aqualand. But, we made it to Aqualand. We stayed at Aqualand last night. I don't know what those purple flowers are, but those are kind of cool. I feel like I'm in Willy Wonka land. And now, we're going to jump into his main pond and we're going to plant that up. Let's go see if we can't find the man and find the plan. If you guys are ever around the area and you get a chance to go visit Aqualand, absolutely do so. This place is phenomenal. It feels like it's a nature reserve, but it's actually all man-made. This is a all man-made ponds. Morning, Greg. >> Good morning. Did you get some Did you get some breakfast? >> Yeah, I did. I finished my poke bowl for breakfast. >> Okay. Oh, oh, oh. Well, breakfast, yeah. Yeah. Oh, hey, we're filming, huh? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Guys, this is Greg. You guys know Greg. I've known You've been part of my channel for years. You guys know Greg. >> Well, I'm normally Greg with Sucker the Pond Guy, but today, I'm Greg with Sucker the Water Lily Sheriff. And Stanley, the way The reason that I created this persona >> Mhm. >> was the number one problem that I saw, literally the number one problem when I would visit people's ponds, is the aquatic plants were not properly taken care of, okay? Because they're the lowest maintenance plants out there because they're self-watering, but you have to replant them and fertilize them at least once a year. And most people bring them home from the nursery, they're in the stock that it was grown in at the garden center, and they just plop it in there. And for the first year it does okay, by the second year it's pretty anemic, and by the third year it's almost dead. And so, once a year we repot, replant the lilies, and that's what we're doing out here today. Come here, look at this. How fun is this? They're actually repotting the lilies in the fabric pots that we created for this. Like, this is why I love my job. Like, that is fun, like this is what they get to do. We have a beautiful day in Chicago, and we're going to be doing our annual great day of planting where once a year we spend the day at Aqualand, and we have two things happening today. Repotting of the hardy water lilies, >> Okay. >> and then the installation, because it's the first week of June, so we always we wait till we hear the weather, the tropical plants. So, we have a truckload, including for your pond, of tropical plants, but here's the challenge. The truck broke down because all business is is fixing problems. So, it was supposed to come in yesterday, it's coming in sometime today, hopefully by noon, cuz I remember you have to go to Ohio Fish Rescue, and we want to get you the plants. So, the worst case scenario is you got to pick the plants back up on the way, but they should be here, they're saying 11:00 right now. >> Oh, perfect. >> Yeah, we have Thomas Holt from Holt's Nursery down in Florida >> Yep. >> out there, and I would love it if you if he showed you and demonstrated how to properly do an aquatic plant. >> Oh, jeez, yeah. Awesome, let's do it. >> So, I'll I'll show you this. I'll show you this, Stanley. When the um tropicals get here, this is the up-flow wetland filtration system, just like in your pond in your yard, it's just bigger. We have one on this side and one on this. So, today we're going to be literally filling this with acacia, with umbrella palm, with thalia, all sorts of tropical plants that the roots will grow down into the gravel and then it will help pull out the nutrients and that's an just the way nature does it, just like in your pond. And so, we're going to get you plants for your wetland filter and this when they come in today. >> Okay. >> And then over here is the operation. And remember we recommend doing this once a year. So, we have our soil. Our Aquascape, this is actually the mix that we have. And if you see it, it's got some little pieces of gravel in it and the number one thing that you want is a loose soil like this. It's a little It's our own unique mix and we sell this as an aquatic plant soil and then we have our fertilizer tabs that we put in as well. So, these are the fabric pots that we created. And what allows this to happen is it allows it to breathe so that you don't have any rot. But look at how this is properly done, all the way to the top. This probably weighs 150 lbs. So, it's going to take two guys but we put straps on them that go all the way around to the bottom and then we have tags on them so people will know what it is. >> fill them up with the the the potting soil. >> Mhm. Holt's Nursery all the way from Apopka, Florida, correct? >> Correct. >> Okay, go ahead Mr. Holt. >> Okay, so what we're going to do here, we have this great big pot here. We're going to put two plants in it. Two plants, going to get double the flowers. They grow from a rhizome. They want to grow in one direction. You can kind of see this is way over here, right? It's going to want to grow a little bit this way and this one here is going to want to grow a little bit this way. So, I'm going to put this like this. I'm going to put this right here. >> So, the plants are going to grow out that way. >> They'll grow out. >> Okay. >> Okay, we're just We're to get up a little bit more soil in there. Yeah. more >> please. >> Now, one of the things is if it's a tropical water lily, you put it in the middle because of the way the rhizome grows, and if it's a hardy, you put it more on the sides, correct? >> I'm okay. Yeah, so we could go a little, but you want to put it the the growing tip going towards the center. Right, so we could even go like this. Okay, I could use a little more little more soil. Now, these cloth pots are going to settle a little bit, so we almost went little more even. Figure this is going to settle 3-4 in, so you almost want to plant it high 3-4 in. Can we get some more soil mounted up really nice? >> Now, one of the challenges that people have with the pots is when they move them around, the soil will settle, so we want to almost overfill it. >> Mhm. Okay, we're ready for the rocks. >> And then and then we use larger gravel so that the koi don't pick up the gravel and spit it out. >> IF THE PLAY IF THE POTS GETS ALL filled with lilies, right? This is an eye. You got one eye right now. If you have 20-30 eyes in here, you start getting small pads, you don't get the flowers, probably time to be repotted and divided. >> The little tiny pots. >> Yeah, you get a big lily in a little pot. So, you want to get it home. You you you can't retail in this. It's too big and too heavy. But this is perfect for your pond. Okay. This will maybe give you two Again, depending, 1 2 3 4 years in the same pot. But it'll need fertilizer every year. Yeah, capsules. >> Okay, so this is the long-acting one, John? >> Yeah, so this is the um 180-day fertilizer from Aquascape. We have two different kinds. We have the granules that when you're when you're just potting them fresh and they're not inside the water, you would use this. >> Okay. >> So, this is the 180-day fertilizer and then for every year for your for your ponds, we have these capsules that are like slow-dissolving. And you just shove them down into the uh into the pots >> Right. >> without, you know, getting the fertilizer all in the water. >> Okay. >> So, you just shove them down by the rhizomes. >> Once a year? >> Once a year. Yep. It's good for all all year. >> So, the next leg of our road trip was going down to Ohio Fish Rescue. This place is absolutely amazing. And um there was one section of highway where I started to see so many land trains that I'd never seen so many I just never seen so many land trains in my life that I made up my own land train song. And uh I started to sing it for my wife. And uh you know what I think I'll do I'll share it for you cuz maybe you guys will like it more than she did. >> 10th one. >> All right, you guys. We made it to Ohio Fish Rescue. I love this place. And guys, is Big Rich, the world record holder for the biggest mullet. >> Uh in the Guinness Book of World Records, >> Guinness Book of World Records. But here's I got a question for you guys. We're looking at what year is your Camaro, Rich? >> 67. >> 67. And then his brand new bike, tell me about this real quick. >> That is a uh a a Texas Chopper, Iron Horse Chopper. Um it's just it's got it's a soft tail. It's got the external belt drive. Uh it just you know, I don't know. It's it's pretty. >> So the big question is is if you guys had a choose between one or the other, which would you choose? What would you take, Rich? >> I'd have to go with the car because I know how much money's in it. I can I can get three of these bikes for that uh Four or five of these bikes for that car. >> Uh I want to I want to take a shot of the engine real quick and the inside of the car. >> Yeah, that steering wheel is awesome. >> See the little skull on it? >> Yes. >> I can get sideways with this thing like this. Just sideways, the other way, back this way, just spinning that little steering wheel. >> That's pretty awesome. >> This is my favorite. I love this place. His the inside of his house. If you guys haven't seen it, go to their YouTube channel, Ohio Fish Rescue. Now he's got another new toy. He's got new toys always got new toys here. Always got something cool. I come here it's just like, oh man, one thing after another. >> That's a clear acrylic box with Mylar on the inside and there's a red neon inside there. This is a red neon with chrome end caps and then I've got white strobe lights here and here where it just it just offsets the red blinginess as it's going, you know. >> Uh-huh. >> And then uh you know, the nitrous bottle, the battery box. I even chromed out the 12-disc CD changer. >> Yeah, this is a fun place. We're going in. I want to get my wife's first first impressions as you walk in. I want to get your first impressions when you walk in, Josh. What has changed since the last time you've been here? Just a Yeah. >> ago. >> He got these He got these two aquariums from uh the Bellagio, right? >> Bellagio casino in Las Vegas. Actually, in three three days, Brett Brett Raymer's going to be here. >> Who's Who's that? >> The one of the the main show guys from the Tank. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah, the main main guy that there was Brett and Wade. >> Right, yeah, yeah. What are they doing coming here for? >> He's got He's got to pick the beta banner over on the corner, so he's stopping in to check us out and see all of his old tanks. >> Oh, very cool. Oh, so he built this? >> Yeah. >> Some of the absolute coolest fish in the in the entire world is here. I mean, to me, the most the coolest fish in the entire world. You have So, here we go. Look at this, you guys. Is this an actual albino leopoldi, or is that a >> Uh it is a mix between hybrid. >> And then you got a big spot >> Yep. >> here. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. And then look at this over here. Look at Just look at this thing. Look at them all come up. They all want to be fed. Look at that. Oh my gosh. Gorgeous. Look at the size of that. It's insane. That's insane. Oh, holy crap. Look at that one. Is this amazing or what? >> That is an albino black diamond. >> That's a That's a true albino black diamond? >> But I think that that is also hybridized of some sort. >> Yeah. >> Okay, so how much is a fish like that worth, Josh? >> Uh back when I bought the bottom, he was 1500. Nowadays, you can probably get something like that a pup for 6-700 bucks. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Huh. >> It's beautiful. >> I would have never thought you could get one that cheap. >> albinos are dropping in price drastically. Everyone's go going back to the super white cross, the male gods, the black dot the diamonds that have the exceptionally bright white pattern, big the big spots. >> That looks like my Leo. The one I had started with. Looks exactly like the one I started with. What is this one, Josh? >> That's >> Australian lungfish? Oh, that's an electric eel? Don't put your hand in there. >> I was watching. >> Don't Do not put your hand in there. You will feel it. I mean, you will feel it. You Didn't you do it and knock you on your butt? >> Um right now, he's not too too bad. It's all like you ever stuck your finger into like a a wall outlet? >> Yeah. >> It It hurts and it makes you mad, but that's about how he feels right now. But him at 6-ft, then he's large enough he could stop your heart. >> See him right here. >> The big guy. >> Those were big. >> These are big. >> Look at that. Is that amazing or what? That right there I think is my favorite fish of all time. >> The piebald gar? >> Yeah. >> The piebald uh xanthic >> gar, yeah. >> Yeah, yeah. >> You going swimming in here? >> I'll go swimming. >> I'll go in with you. >> Awesome. >> All right. >> Awesome. Heck yeah. >> We can die together. >> We'll see if we can't get my wife to go in. Are you Are you Are you interested? >> No. >> Now reach down down there and try and pick him up. Go ahead and try to turn him around. >> Watch it. But just feel the gar. >> lb. >> what are we doing? What are we doing? >> Oh, baby. Oh, what a beautiful animal. What a gorgeous animal. >> So that is uh what's his name? >> His net name is Herbie. We've got Hubert and Herbie. This guy came from New New New York. He uh lived in a 300 gallon for the last 20 years. >> Oh, man. >> And he's seeing us. He won't wanted to find him a better home. >> But now you've got a whole tank full of um these are our mum marbles, right? >> Uh albino pearl. >> Albino pearls? >> Yep. >> Except for this one, right? >> That that one was uh get you given to me by him back there K K C at First Class Aquatics as a gold base albino pearl. But looking at the pattern, I do believe it is an albino maculora. >> That's cool. >> Because the the pearl has these, you know, patterns in between the dots and that's just dots like which is no pearl I've ever seen. >> Mhm. >> And you look at the tetradale, it brown red red tetradale. So it tells me there's no black red in this. So I'm going to say it's a maculora. >> got into the situation she's in now. >> How you doing, sir? Good to see you again. I could smell that stogie from inside. >> Yeah, that's unfortunate. >> You still You still You still hanging out. Oh, here we go. I see the paddlefish. This is what I'm here for you guys. This has been one of my I don't know what one of those fish that I've always wanted my entire life. My entire life. So >> Bucket list. >> Yeah, bucket list fish. And you've got 10 of them in there now. >> Uh there's probably uh Say 13, hopefully 14. >> I added that to mine. >> Oh, all right. So, you got even more. And this is it right here. Look at the So exciting. So exciting. I'm so pumped. Oh my gosh. That is excellent. What are you feeding them, Josh? Hot dogs? >> Quickest thing I I could find. >> How many hot dogs do you feed these guys? >> Uh 16 lbs. >> A day? >> seconds. And That is the quickest you've ever seen 16 lbs of food disappear, huh? >> Called chumming the water before we get in. >> All right. You want to face them for a second? All right, guys. >> You're like a big puppy. Today we have Stan, the dirt monkey. He's here with us. >> What's up, buddy? >> Absolutely, this is awesome. >> Got them in the pool swimming. Hopefully the alligator gars are coming towards you. Oh my god, this guy is a beautiful. >> Isn't he? >> Look at him. Oh god, that's my favorite…